not feeling well (ok i feel like dying)

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 5/12 but was suffering for 15 years and getting tested for any imaginable cause for the pain I had/have constantly until my old Dr and ex wife both said the pain was all in my head andthere was nothing wrong with me. I started pentasa immediately after diagnosis and kept telling my GI doctor I am not being controlled but she insisted Iwas until I called the office while in a bad flare crying like a baby and said I need help and now, she added entocort to no avail except nose bleeds so switched to 50mg of prednisone which did nothing for my pain but Ididnt have 23 bowel movements a day at least so then added imuran at 50mg 2 weeks and I went to the er I was in so much pain all tests normal except wbc was 17 sent me home with vicoden and GI is getting insurance approval for Humira. I am a self employed mechanic with 2 kids my question how the hell am I supposed to work let alone pay child support? Because of being so sick I stay in bed several days a week I hate my life I have few to no friends and nofamily support if I did notlove my kids and try to do everything I ca n for them I would just give up on life I am so tired of doing it alone I need abreak

You are not alone!!  Everyone on here is so supportive!  Try to stay strong and positive, I know it is so hard right now but it will get better!! I have been in a flare for months now, for me pain is most of my problem, I am on Imuran 200mg, and hopefully the doc. told you it take awhile for it to start working.  I have heard a lot of people on here have great success with the biologics so hopefully that will work for you!  Have you had a new scope lately to see whats going on in there?  I avoid prednisone at all costs, it gives me terrible gastritis, that pain from that seemed to be worse than pain from crohns.  Mostly I just wanted to let you know you are not ALONE!!!  Just keep on your doc. about the pain does the vicodin work for the pain?  My last time at my GI he gave me a prescription for Bentyl or generic name dicyclomine, its for spasms in your stomach and bowel. It works wonders for me for the cramping pain I wish he would of prescribed that way sooner.  It has helped me through a lot of days!

So hope this helps a little, hang in there!!

JLCat is right,

You are not alone!!! I assure you that there has been many people here that have reached rock bottom as you have right now, and have been able to get this disease under control.

Unfortunately, it sounds like your disease was out of control for many years untreated. At this point, Pentasa for you is likely useless. The descending prednisone should help get you feeling better, but the Imuran doesn't sound like it's at a high enough therapeautic dose. You need to have a metabolite test to get the optimal dosing of that.

You are very likely ready to make the move to biologics. I would think that your GI would discuss Remicade with first, but Humira is good as well.

I know that you said that the positive thing isn't working, but you have to keep trying. You have kids to care for, and it sounds like you're a very good father. Good luck, I promise you things will get better soon.

Start reading as many books on diet and supplements for Crohns, UC. then take the time and read this forum. You will find more helpful information here than anywhere I can think of, including the CCFA. org which is another good source of information. Are you taking a probiotic? That has help me considerably. Since starting on a probiotic, I haven't had the uncontrolled bleeding that I used to have, thank God!

Good books to read are The Makers Diet by Jordin Rubin and Breaking the vicious cycle by Elaine Gottschall.

VSL3 and Garden of Life's Primal Defense Ultra are two really good probiotics.

As for supplements, there are many that people have had good luck with. Bee Propolis, Slipper ELm, Fish Oil, Coconut oil, Boswellia, and many more.

Good luck!

I had aCT scan done a few days ago and it didn't show any scarring etc. How will I get enough nutrients with a low resiedue diet? GI thinks I may have something on top of the Crohn's causing the pain. Ironically I feel better living on fast food but ibd is horrible then

Here is a link to WebMD about foods that would be ok on a low-residue diet. I think you can get enough of the nutrients that you need without all the fiber. Trust me, fruits and vegetables can be painful. I finally started making fruit smoothies with mild fruits (like bananas). The nutritionist at my OB's office (who is not GI trained) told me to try adding a handful of spinach leaves to it this last week. Lol, I thought I was going to die from the pain! Reminded me why I avoid the high-fiber things when I'm flaring.

Anyway, here's that link. Do you have any specific questions about nutrients that might not be found in these foods?
www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/low-residue-diet-foods